BUS110 W14 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal Final

 

• If you had one final lecture to share with a group of students on what you have learned from this course, what would you share?

• This has been an interesting and very informative course. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I registered for it but am surprisingly pleased. The most important lesson or idea that I learned over this semester is to find and then do something you love. When you do something you love, it can make weathering the storms seem a bit easier because you are doing work that you enjoy. Life is short and there isn’t time to waste being unhappy. Being an entrepreneur can be something exciting if you make it exciting. It doesn’t mean that it will always be easy but learning how to work effectively is important when owning your own business.

• What would be your last bit of advice to someone wanting to begin the entrepreneur journey?

• Networking! Networking is extremely helpful in any career you choose. If you are able to build a stable and wide network it will help you be able to do better in your business. There are often times that you can help another business and then they in turn can help you. Keeping track of your network and staying involved with them will and does improve your business as well as your ability to work effectively.

• What words of advice, direction, or caution would you give him or her if you had only one chance to give your own last lecture?

• The most impressive words of advice that I could give to someone is slow and steady wins the race. This is a common phrase that most people know about. But they don’t always take it seriously. Many people want to take the easy way in their personal and professional life. It may work for some but that is an exception to the rule. When you start your business it’s normal to not see much growth or earnings right away but if you run your business honestly and truly work your hardest, it increases your chance of success. Many people want to give up after the first difficulty because they want things to be easy or thought that it would be easy. But nothing that is worthwhile will be easy. Take your time, follow your gut, and trust the process.

BUS110 W13 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal

  I really enjoyed President Monson’s talk, “An Attitude of Gratitude.” I have had a hard time with gratitude at different times in my life. I didn’t believe that you could always find something positive in life despite what you may or may not be going through. But as I have gone through many trials and celebrations I have learned that there is a way to see something, even if it is a small something, good in every situation. This doesn’t mean what I’m going through isn’t hard, it just means that I can see past the trial and see that this is just temporary and I will be happy again. I learned that using gratitude helped me to grow and learn from trials and at some points it helped me get through them faster! President Monson stated, “We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.” We are taught and commanded to be like Jesus Christ and try to emulate Him in everything we do. He was gracious and so we must learn to be gracious as well. Being able to see the small things to be grateful for helps us see the positive in hard situations. Plus it helps us become closer to our Heavenly Father and our brother, Jesus Christ. There is so much to be thankful for and if we open our eyes then we will see what surrounds us. The things that I’m most grateful for are my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Spirit, my family and my friends. I have been blessed with a lot of great people around me that have helped support me and in return I’m able to support them.

BUS 110 W12 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal

 Based on what you read in the first two pages (pages 3 and 4), why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?

In the article, “What’s a Business For” by Charles Handy, he states, “Trust, too, is fragile. Like a piece of china, once cracked it is never quite the same. And people’s trust in business, and those who lead it, is today cracking.” There are many businesses that are not honest and trustworthy but they try to say they are. Charles Handy touches on the dishonesty of governments and the fact that they aren’t associated with honesty. When the government isn’t honest, some think why should I be honest? There are many times when the lies are exposed and it can be detrimental to a company. So while being honest and virtuous may be a more difficult and slower process, in the end it is so much better for the company and the consumer.  

According to Charles Handy, what is the “real justification” for the existence of businesses?

“The purpose of a business, in other words, is not to make a profit, full stop. It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better. That ‘something’ becomes the real justification for the business.”

What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why?

Charles Handy states that businesses need to take the lead in a variety of areas instead of waiting for the government to impose laws. The most important solution he provides is the importance of individual and environmental well-being. He explains that companies need to allow their employees to have a healthy work/life balance in their lives. When your company has happy employees, it makes it easier for the employees to work harder and be more effective. This also ties back to honesty. Being honest with your employees and your expectations will help them to trust you and gain loyalty from them.

W11 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal

 What is your attitude toward money?

Money is a necessary evil in our world. We have to have money in order to survive and to live our lives. I do believe that there is too much emphasis put on money and it has and does create a lot of big issues all over the world. There are many people that don’t have enough money to even survive much less live. The poverty in the world is getting worse and worse and something needs to be done. There are people that have more money than they could spend in 10 lifetimes and some of them donate and try to help people. But it isn’t enough. They have enough money to donate to help more people. They don’t need their homes to be personal resorts. There are people with much less money that are donating what they can including their time. I want to be able to make enough money for me and my family to live comfortably. I don’t want to worry about how we will make it if a car problem happens or someone gets sick with lots of medical bills. 

How can your view of money affect the way you live?

Understanding that money is needed in life helps us know that we need to gain an education and find a good job that we can be happy at while still being there for our family. I want to raise my kids to be kind, caring and giving people. They don’t need to judge those that are less fortunate than them. The idea of helping others is the way I want to raise my family to think about money and others. Money isn’t the goal of life, the goal is to live with your family and be happy.  

What rules are recommended for prospering?

I don’t believe there are any set rules that will result in a lot of money. There are a lot of suggestions but you have to find what works for you and your family and your personal situation. Prospering doesn’t have to mean being rich. Prospering can mean thriving in your personal and familial life. Being there for others. Helping and serving when you can. Prospering shouldn’t be synonymous with wealth.

BUS110 W10 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal

  This week provided so many helpful and interesting resources to learn from. In the talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks stated, “In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.” In order to “become something” we will need to learn and grow to “learn something.” Learning doesn’t have an end date because if we are wise then we continue to seek out knowledge and learn more throughout our life. Learning to have a growth mindset is important in our professional lives as well as our personal lives. When and if you choose to start a business or launch a product doesn’t mean the work is done. It is just beginning. You have to continue to gain education about your career and seek out people that can help you grow. Keeping this in mind is important when you are faced with challenges. Instead of retreating when trials come, keep the goal of gaining knowledge and push your way through and you will grow through what you go through. I want to finish my Bachelor’s Degree by next year. But this will take extra work and extra effort on my part. While it seems daunting at times, I keep the end in mind. I remind myself why I’m going to school and even when school is hard, I can learn from it. 

In the video, “Your Emotional Fingerprint” it states, “Since the dawn of time, there’s been a struggle between two forces. One is uplifting, hopeful, encouraging, confident, and charitable; seeks not to own or control, and is strong, beautiful, free and independent. The other is fearful, egotistical, prideful, puffed up, lazy, contentious, lonely, seeks approval, is negative, and is loathsome. I’m not talking about a movie plot, or the next great novel; I’m talking about the battle in each of us.” This stands out and reminds us to always look and move forward with a positive attitude about our personal and professional lives.

BUS 110 W9 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal

  This was an interesting week and I was able to learn a lot from the readings. The assigned reading that stood out the most to me this week was, “A Disciple Preparation Center (DPC)” by Elder David A. Bednar. He shares about the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and about the various experiences that have come from that but most importantly the Missionary Training Centers are located near a temple. I didn’t know this before I read this article. But this makes so much sense. Temple attendance is so very important in our lives and we are encouraged by all church leaders to make this an important priority. Missionaries are dedicating the next couple of years of their lives to the Lord and they will need His guidance. There is no better place to pray and grow that important relationship with our Heavenly Father than at the temple. Allowing young missionaries to attend the temple while at the Missionary Training Center is helpful for their spiritual growth. He then talks about Brigham Young University - Idaho is similar to the MTC by being close to a temple. Elder Bednar and others have noticed how beneficial this has been for the missionaries at the MTC and the residents as Brigham Young University - Idaho. He explained that they are looking to create “not a missionary training center (MTC), but a Disciple Preparation Center - a DPC.” 

Elder Bednar stated, “A disciple is one who follows or attends upon another for the express purpose of learning. Please note that a disciple both follows and learns.” This Disciple Preparation Center sounded really insightful. I think having a place where we can gather and learn more about how to be Disciples outside of Sunday Church. This has inspired me to be a better disciple and even though there may not be a Disciple Preparation Center by me, I can do my own thing and study about being a better disciple.

BUS110 W8 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal

In President Monson’s talk titled, “Looking Back and Moving Forward” he talks about the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley and about what a wonderful called of God man that he was. It is always said when someone you love and care for passes on. But something to remember is that it is only sad for us that are left on Earth. For those that have passed they are with their Heavenly Father and free from pain. President Monson explains that while we can look back and remember their life but we must ultimately look toward the future and embrace what the Lord has in store for us. 

President Monson stated, “In the private sanctuary of one’s own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off the old person and to measure up to the stature of true potential. In this spirit, we again issue that heartfelt invitation: Come back. We reach out to you in the pure love of Christ and express our desire to assist you and to welcome you into full fellowship. To those who are wounded in spirit or who are struggling and fearful, we say, Let us lift you and cheer you and calm your fears. Take literally the Lord’s invitation.” The Lord is willing to overlook our past and forgive us for our sins so that we can move forward in faith and cleanliness like President Monson encourages us to do. I have done some things that I’m not proud of in my past and I felt as if I couldn’t be forgiven and I wasn’t worth being forgiven. But I was lucky to have great church leaders that explained that even though I have made past mistakes, I can still repent and be forgiven. I don’t have to focus on the past and feel hopeless but rather I can learn from my past and move on to bigger and better things in my life as long as I follow the Lord and His promptings.